What is the Worth of 666 Talents of Gold?

by Mark Horne

The 666 talents of gold are worth an awful lot, not just in terms of money but in terms of theological meaning–at least worth a lot more than most modern Evangelical commentators would think.

In Revelation 13:18 we are told that the number of the beast is a number “of man,” that is 666. Now, many commentators and preachers are willing to look at this number for symbolic meaning; and to figure it out, they rightly go to the rest of Scripture. Six is one short of seven, which is generally understood to stand for perfection in the Bible. From Genesis 1, the number six is especially pregnant with implications for this passage since, on the sixth day, both man and beast were created. This, in turn, ties into the book of Daniel where four empires are pictured an image of a man in the second chapter but as four beasts in the seventh. Naturally, the beasts of Daniel are especially relevant to Revelation, but there is even more of a correlation since Nebuchadnezzar was turned into a beast at the height of his pride (4:28-33).

All of this is fine but, for reasons that will hopefully become clear, it is not enough. The number in the text is 666, not just six. One can say that it is simply the number repeated thrice (though the text does not literally repeat the number), but the actual number 666 does come up elsewhere in the Old Testament. It is mentioned twice in reference to the same event in Solomon’s life as recorded in 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13. Both authors found it worth noting that Solomon collected 666 talents of gold in revenue one year. The text does not say what year it was or whether or not this was the greatest amount of gold that he ever received in a year. Both texts “just happen” to mention the fact, without giving any explanation as to why it is worth mentioning. Most modern evangelicals would probably say that the verse means that Solomon collected a lot of gold, but the authors didn’t write that Solomon collected “a lot” of gold. Rather they wrote a specific weight.

The structure of these almost identical chapters mentioning the quantity of gold is worth noting. First, the Queen of Sheba visits Solomon and is impressed (1 Kings 10:1-13; 2 Chronicles 9:1-12). Then we are told of the 666 talents, and a description of the rest of his wealth and glory is given (1 Kings 10:14-22; 2 Chronicles 9:13-21). Then his greatness is reiterated, with emphasis on the revenues he collected (1 Kings 10:23-25; 2 Chronicles 9:22-24). Finally, we are told that Solomon collects horses and chariots (1 Kings 10:26-29; 2 Chronicles 9:25-28). In other words, he sins, by doing what a king in Israel is never supposed to do (Deuteronomy 17:16-17). At this point, 2 Chronicles 9 closes with Solomon’s death and the next chapter shows the kingdom ripped apart. In 1 King’s, however, the chapter ends with Solomon’s sins regarding horses and chariots. The next chapter shows him collecting foreign wives (also forbidden in Deuteronomy 17:17) and finally worshipping false gods.

In short, both chapters show us God’s Anointed falling into outright apostasy. It is significant that the kingdom split because Rehoboam refused to lighten the load in taxes and forced labor which his father had put on the people (1 Kings 12:1ff; 2 Chronicles 10:1ff). Solomon’s latter reign was not a happy time. He had become a beast.

And, in telling us of the height of his power and glory, both texts mentioned that Solomon brought in 666 talents of gold one year. Then he slid into sin.

There is no reason to doubt that Revelation 13:18 is building on 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13. Simply the fact that the number is not used anywhere else in Scripture, guarantees that any Biblically literate first-century person reading or hearing John’s epistle from Patmos would immediately turn to those passages. Where else could he go?

But this has radical implications (radical as far as modern evangelical Bible scholarship is concerned anyway). It means that Old Testament readers were supposed to do the same sort of theological work with 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13, that modern evangelical commentators do with Revelation 13:18. They were supposed to consider Genesis 1 and the meaning of the number six. After the book of Daniel was written, they were supposed to link the story of Solomon with Nebuchadnezzar and the four empire-beasts. This was not such a far stretch since the Babylonian emperor Cyrus was declared to be the Lord’s “Anointed” (Isaiah 45:1), that is the Messiah or Christ. Thus, the line of Gentile world rulers inherited the status of Solomon and became beasts when they persecuted Israel, falling from ProtoChrists to AntiChrists. Furthermore, Old Testament readers were supposed to see numerical correlations–such as the fact that Nebuchadnezzar’s graven image is sixty cubits tall and six cubits across (Daniel 3:1).

In any case, all this brief essay is actually saying is “all Scripture is exhaled by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). If God is omniscient and if the Bible is His Word then every detail in it matters a great deal. God could have told us whether or not there was life on other planets, or he could have given us a great many theological formulas so that we wouldn’t have so many theological debates among Bible believers about doctrinal statements. But instead He told us that Solomon collected 666 talents of gold.

The end of the matter is: Throughout all future history God wants every Christian to know that Solomon collected 666 talents of gold, just as he wants us to know that the sons of Shammai were Nadab and Abishur (1 Chronicles 1:28), that the church in Corinth was next to the synagogue (Acts 18:7), and that the Israelites were not to make a baldness between their eyes for the sake of the dead (Deuteronomy 14:1). I have discussed Solomon’s 666 talents of gold and not the other passages because I have little-to-no idea how they can possibly be “profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” I had help from the Apostle John regarding Solomon’s gold, but it goes without saying that the other passages are just as meaningful. It would be an insult to the Holy Spirit to claim that, or to act as if He inspired His messengers to write things for us that don’t matter.

16 Responses to “What is the Worth of 666 Talents of Gold?”

The bible, in the book of the Revelation to John tells us: ‘let him that hath wisdom and understanding reckon the number of the beast for it is the number of a man’ and his number is six hundred and threescore six. The words ‘wisdom’ and ‘understanding’ refer God’s mercifully graced readers to Solomon. The number 666 being the number of a man, refers to Solomon, who had much wisdom and understanding. Sadly, he fell away to worshipping false gods….taking the ‘star of chemosh’ as his seal. The six pointed star, more commonly known as a hex-agram or the ‘seal of solomon’ adorns the flag of Israel today, as well as being a mark of ritual for various secret societies including the ‘free’ masons. It never was nor is it today, the star of David, solomon’s earthly father.

It is no longer a secret what the mark of the beast is, and who the beast and it’s little horn are as well!

mitch robinson indeed speaks the truth with regard to the seal….and links his documentation…the best is http://www.watch pair.com/solomon.html…. this speaks of thomas plantard St Clair as being the most likely candidate for the post of antichrist…well worth the big read that it is…cheers

I believe that I am at the very least one of a number of PROTOCHRISTS – like Ronald Wilson Reagan because I have 6 letters in each one of my names and I am no longer a victim but I am a victor like my middle name suggests. People call me Eddie Murphy and laugh at me because I am not as rich as him; but that does not bother me as long as they’re laughing! I aspire to be the KING OF COMEDY – SO AS TO MAKE AS MANY PEOPLE AS I CAN LAUGH! LAUGHTER IS THE BEST MEDICINE! HUMOR IS THE BEST THERAPY! I AM IN THE FBI FULL-BLOODED IRISH AND CIA – CATHOLIC IRISH ALCOHOLIC!

I wish to make clear that I may not agree with all information at the links posted, and wish as well to emphasize that those who think they work in secret are indeed well found out….they and their devious machinations will bear much good fruit for our heavenly Father whether or not they can believe it. I prefer to steer clear of too much speculation, as there are many solid facts by which to identify those our Master, Yahshua, speaks about. The last ‘beast’ is, just like the first beast, the Roman army, a mighty military machine and the whole world wonders even now, “who can wage war with it?” The beast and it’s little horn, (USA military industrial complex & counterfeit Israel) are being woefully misled. Even the toy technologies shared with them will betray them upon seeing Yahshua and His army approach in the Heavens! America has fallen far from what was once blessed upon her! And may the Hand of Yahweh smite the entertainment and other media industry whores whose constant onslaught against the innocent fills a blistering cup of His wrath just for her. Throw it down now, Father!

“Whoever seeks to save his life shall lose it, he who would give up his life for My sake, shall save it!”

Serving Yahweh is not about sharing the easy truths, but sharing the uneasy ones as well. Even the world loves what is it’s own. True love can be, and often is, tough love.

This is why your Father in Heaven is shortening the days, lest no flesh remain alive upon the earth!

Rejoice in the hour of tribulation, for you were forewarned….and must be prepared. Let no one take the oil in your lamp, be happy that your Savior does not delay but is coming right on time! In fact He Himself implores us to pray continually that our Father send His Son soon!

Fear of GOD is the beginning of “wisdom” & “understanding” is to keep away from evil. Solomon had wisdom & understanding but did he fulfill the above requirements of wisdom & understanding ? As a king of Israel did he not have the knowledge of the Commandments given to Mosses & of that spoken by the Prophets? Guess, he got bitten by the “pussy” bug, prevalent today. Man is indeed a fool to have rejected GOD over them & instead choose to rule himself. Look at the present state of the so called Israel & the world today. Seeing is believing. The seal of solomon is also known as the sign of vishnu, of the many Avatars of the Hindu pantheon of gods. “The prince of the power of air”. Along with the gold, peacock & monkeys, his ships also brought the “ingredients” for his pagan temples from India.

I labored on the fact that Solomon, in all of his Wisdom and Knowledge, fell so far from God. I believe God is teaching us that Wisdon and Understanding is given to us to keep ourselves from evil, but a good heart (mercy, compassion and love for others) is the other, maybe main, ingredient to be pleasing to God. We can have all of the Wisdom and Understanding that God is willing to share, but if we neglect the mercy and truth side of it, we will fall. The Bible says that Solomon’s heart was not right, yet his father, David’s heart was right with God. David had a man sent to the front line so that he could have the man’s wife. This was a sin before God, however, it is easy to see when reading Psalms, that David loves and trusts the Lord with all of his heart and soul. Proverbs, on the other hand, has great Wisdom and teaching, but seems to lack the humbleness that, I believe, is the main ingredient that God is looking for.
Having said that, I, also want Christ to come and end the evil that is growing strong in the world, but I pray that God opens the eyes and ears of every man and woman before coming. Remember what Paul wrote:

Hebrew 10

26 For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, 27 but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. 28 Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. 29 Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? 30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,”[e] says the Lord.[f] And again, “The LORD will judge His people.”[g] 31 It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

(Revelation 13:18) Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six Hundred Threescore and Six.

(1 Kings 10:14) Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was Six Hundred Threescore and Six talents of gold.

King Solomon (the beast) has influenced more people to oppose the teachings of Christ than any other man that has ever lived. Solomon (being the son of David) was thought by many to be the Messiah and lived about 1,000 years before Christ came in the flesh. He is the beast that was, and is not, and yet is through his pillars of law and temple that God cast out of His sight. According to scripture Solomon hired masons to build a temple which God cast out of His sight for Solomon’s apostasy (by the worshipping of other gods). Solomon’s temple (which no longer stands) is what the “established” church itself is built upon but this is not the true church. The true church according to the new testament is the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22, 23) and not a temple made with men’s hands (John 2:19-21). He is also the new tabernacle “made without hands” (Hebrews 9:11). Without the pillars of law that Solomon set up (which stand for strength and establishment) the “established” church could not exist and the body of Christ (of course) can not be established through the beast’s pillars of law. There is no place in scripture that tells us that God told Solomon to set up these pillars. The old Testament tells us “But Solomon was building his own house” (1 Kings 7:1). This is where he set up the pillars of “his” law not God’s. God’s law is “spiritual” according to Romans chapter 7 verse 14 and this is the whole law that Christ came to fulfill (Matthew 5:17). Christ otherwise abolished the law of commandments contained in ordinances (Ephesians 2:15), blotting out the handwriting of ordinances against us (Colossians 2:14). Therefore, the law that is “used” to pay law enforcers and also to make judges of law and lawyers rich is not justified by God and Christ but by the beast and the dragon (the devil that gave the beast his power). Jesus said (concerning lawyers) (Luke 11:46) And he said, Woe unto you also ye lawyers! for ye lade men with burdens grievous to be borne, and ye yourselves touch not the burdens with one of your fingers . And Paul plainly spoke against the judges in (Romans 2:1-3) Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doeth the same things. And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shall escape the judgment of God? Law keepers manipulate the law for their own gain (to get paid) and in doing so serve Satan and the beast for money.

(Revelation 17:8) The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

I have find it facinating that men who claim faith in Christ and claim to have the Holy Spirit, don’t believe that every word in the Bible is God’s word. I recently wrote a book called “Prophecy Hidden in Plain Sight”. Within the short 56 page book, I debunk all of the the anitinomies that the theological wisards of today have created concerning the rapture and the return of the Lord. Do you “Christians” know that that there is a counting of days, weeks months years feasts, and jubilees; given, describing when the Lord Jesus is to return? I suggest you read the book and know that I don’t sell God’s word. I donate 100% to charity and missions. Bless you all. The book comes out in Oct 2010.

I would guess that the mark of the beast is related to the gold of Solomon. Money today is the great motivator, not the fear of God. If you want people to do things for you, flash money in front of their face, and they will do just about whatever you ask them. Or if you want someone to stop doing something take a significant amount of money from them and they will be fearful of losing their money. So, the love of money and material possessions is what it seems to boil down to, not the love for the Word of God. Here are some interesting verses to ponder:

And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grass of the earth, neither any green thing, neither any tree; but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads.
Revelation 9:4 KJV

And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.
Deuteronomy 6:6-9 KJV

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness! No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Matthew 6:21-24 KJV

And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.
Revelation 13:16-18 KJV

I speak to everyone but, first refering to, i believe ‘Abbey’? and the posting of, Demi Quote ‘fear of god is a wisdom’ un Demi Quote. No it is not wise to fear anything. God is all that is good (only an extra o alters the title). As much as a D added to evil etc. Where does fear ever come into all pure and good?. Trust me i am not ‘having a go’, i honestly want people to question reason of any form of religious dogmatics. Why can no one understand, god is not lord, lord is deception, moses and lord if properly read, exodus is the clear debased behaviours that lord asks/demands etc, ‘go take the neighbouring virgins for wives’ (wont quote as, biblical text was not written by anyone but man). Nobody gets why theres an issue of moses’ dead body, thats because nobody is realising god has only one name in scripture, the lord is one of many and believing and listening to the wrong ‘false god’ is the reasoning behind everything, fighting non dogmatic belief and being in fear is a worship all twisted bavkwards. No fear is made by good, fear is an negativity of infection that spreads so easy if without understanding, wrath of god? Not a possibility. Jealousy (im a jealous god (note lord does call itself god) how can u truly believe in the ultimate perfection as a jealous, wrathful, to induce absolute fear as a divine being? If i am to be bombarded with inane quotes, or derogatory comments in posting a response? I only say ‘read exodus and take in the demands, rape and pillage 1st, its no good thing to justify the evil deeds done, its written for you to read and properly’ love to all

Good write up. Another thing these ‘spirit-filled’ churches waitng for a rapture,claiming the jews are His chosen and 144,000 of them will find Christ. America is the new jeruselem and the 12 tribes of Israel had returned together the anglo-saxon,lombardic and other kindred peoples. As forbidden we let in the stranger and things have been falling apart since. Now menorahs are all over the whitehouse but no Christmas trees.
what sickens me is that the vatican would not stand up fro bishop Williamson when he staed the FACt that less than 300,000 jews died and it was mostly of typhus,no gas chambers or burning alive. germany rose from the ashes in the 30s. jewsih international banking brought them to their knees. with all the publishing companies being jew owned all we hear is how evil they were, when in fact germany was the only Christian nation of the 20th century. they were nicely asking the stranger, the antichrists, to leave thier land. Communism, the bolshevik revolution of 1917 was 90% led by jews. the Czar was a good Christian leader and fair to his people. His family was butchered. then the bolsheviks made a point of killing Christains. over 30 million CHRISTIANS were butchered before 1932. holomodor ukraine they were straved to death after they took all their farm eqipment and grain. 7million died a terrible death fo starvation. thier killers had the gual to use some of thier pictures in thier holocaust story.
The beast has overtook israel once more. most families pull in 2 hours of subversion a day on their TV. The most importand thing is to realize that YHWHs eterna enemies the edomites are ‘the jews that say they are jews but are teh synagogue of satan (rev 2;9, 3;90
The Talmud is the “tradition of the elders’ which Jesus spoke so stringly against. Ii Kings 17:24 is the proof in the pudding that the edomites brought thier religion of Molech into the holyland after Assyria sacked Israel and they posed to believe in the words of the prophets. John 8:44 Christ let us know the jews are of thier father the devil and Judiasm is NOT the start of Christainty..it is the religion of molech and if we are ever to turn from manna and go go YHWH me must quit worrying about tax deductions and sya TO HELL wiht the C-4 church and tell the sheep who these jews really are before we are slaughtered again as in Russia

“666” in Revelation is the number of man, the value of the roman numerals used in the first century added up to “666”. it means “money” you require it to buy and sell. Solomon’s “666” talents of gold, means, he was very rich, and loved wealth. How many times did Jesus teach about money, you can not serve both God and money, do not store up treasures on earth, but store up your treasures in heaven, Jesus taught sell everything and give to the poor, and follow me. Jesus cleared the temple of money changers. The widow’s offering she gave out of her poverty, she put in everything she had. It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then a rich man to get into heaven. The rich man and Lazarus. When God brought the Hebrews out of Egypt in Exodus 13 He put his mark on his people if they were “obedient”,and follow his commandments. Revelation 13 the mark of the Beast must be the oppsite meaning “Disobedience” not following his commandnments. “666” is pursuit and love of money. Just some of my thoughts on this subject.

I’d agree with Ron in the sense that “you cannot love both God and mammon”, and goes hand-in-hand with the difference between those sealed by God with the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 9), who hate lawlessness, and the “man of lawlessness”, anti-Christs, those who are lawless, sealed with “mammon’s” seal, who are to be cut down like fruitless trees and destroyed like weeds in the oven.

It’s also evident that, throughout the Bible, even back to Moses in His song, and also in Galatians 4, that those called “Israel” are not necessarily Israel, and both “Jew” and “Gentile” if you classify it like that, are the true Israel and the New Jerusalem is their true mother, with “earthly Jerusalem” being the “son of the bondwoman” who is thrown out! Some people are thinking that the so-called Israelite nation will all be saved, because all of God’s people are saved – but they forget that Abraham’s seed is reckoned through faith, and not through flesh.

Solomon’s Temple was indeed destroyed once and for all, and God’s true temple has been established once and for all: us, because we are the body of the living Lord, Jesus Christ, Who is God’s true Temple made by God and not by man.

In 1 Chronicles 17, God says He doesn’t need a house and never wanted a house, but that one coming from David’s body, his descendent, would build a house for God – yet God shows that He Himself will build that house ultimately, and David’s house and line which He makes will last forever. The true Temple has always been in Jesus if one had the revelation, but God has made it known in the last days in Jesus Christ.

Therefore, all of these so-called “Jews” who hate the Lord and His Christ, and those who determine to build a temple with hands once again, and who prefer to go back to not understanding the Law but being “line upon line” without coming to know Him; that, in my mind, is most significant in understanding what the beast does.

Don’t forget that the whore Babylon sits on the beast, and that the Babylon is that “Great City” where our lord was crucified (Jerusalem), and whose cup is filled with the blood of the saints and martyrs (Jerusalem – Matthew 23:35), and who will be paid back double for her sins – that is, the second death, or “destroyed with double destruction” (Jeremiah 17:18 – speaking of Judah’s immorality).

It seems DOUBTLESS to me that one who does indeed intend to rule, having come back up out of the pit where it was sent, will indeed try to be like those old “rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah” (spiritually-speaking, rulers of earthly Jerusalem – Isaiah 1:10 + Revelation 11:8)

Notice that the only place spiritually called Sodom is Jerusalem, and the only place where 666 is used is for King Solomon (builder of the temple) and his greed, and the “abomination of desolation” was decreed for earthly Jerusalem and their temple which was indeed destroyed for all time by God’s permission! (Luke 13:35 and Luke 21:20-22 < why else are those in Judea told to flee to the mountains unless destruction is determined for there? To fulfill all that was written about its destruction!)

Hmm… Reading the commentary here makes me hopeful for evolution..
Books are lost and found. The texts and thoughts within them bound by the language, syntax, meaning of their time.
Who among us today can say, true to a language, syntax, and meaning to which we are now bound, what it was like to live a life in the area we now call the Middle East some two or three thousand years ago?

Perhaps we are… All of us… Connected by spirit and body.. And like the fragments you pore over, we are excerpts from a larger text that is even now being read out loud by its Creator.

A number and its significance is but a pinpoint to one’s vision. Perspective matters. From what angle are you, the observer, viewing the pinpoint? Is the pinpoint a point or the end of a needle or a distant star?

Can you say with certainty that you know the answer?
Should you? .

Faith is a painful component of man’s existence. Certainty usually creates fools out of sages.
Accepting that mankind is still in the act of becoming… That our story is yet being told… Is more painful still and a challenge, both sublime and boorish, to us all.